Hotel-Based Wild Swim Weekend in Snowdonia – Trip Report
Our September wild-swimming trip to Eryri (Snowdonia) was a new chapter for Large Outdoors. For the first time, this weekend was based in a hotel in Caernarfon, making the whole experience more comfortable, sociable and easier to run as a car-free trip. With relaxed evenings, steady swims and good company, it turned out to be a brilliant way to enjoy wild swimming in one of the UK’s most varied landscapes.
Friday: A Warm Welcome in Caernarfon
Everyone arrived in Caernarfon on Friday afternoon, settling into the hotel before meeting in the bar for introductions.
We then headed out for the evening and enjoyed a relaxed night at the Black Boy Inn — proper pub food, friendly atmosphere and plenty of time to chat. It set the tone nicely for the weekend: easy-going, social and full of laughs.
Saturday: Finding Swims in a Mixed Forecast
The weather forecast for Saturday looked uncertain, but one of the benefits of Eryri is the sheer number of swim options spread across valleys, forests and lakes. It makes it easy to find sheltered spots when the weather changes its mind — which it often does.
Llyn Geirionydd
Our first stop was Llyn Geirionydd, which offered a perfect calm dip despite the forecast. The cloud broke, the wind eased and we more or less had the lake to ourselves — a great start to the day.
A New Secret Spot
From there, we went on to a brand-new location. It turned out to be an excellent find, quiet, atmospheric and ideal for a refreshing swim. We’re keeping the exact spot to ourselves for now — not everything needs to be shared online.
Ugly House Tearoom & Swallow Falls
After warming up at the Ugly House tearoom, we made a short stop at Swallow Falls. They were in full flow after recent rain, and the sheer volume of water made for a great sight from the viewing platform.
One More Wild Dip
Our final swim of the day was a bit lively — the sort of dip that ends with a lot of laughing and no photos because everyone is simply getting on with it. A memorable way to end the afternoon.
Back in Caernarfon, we headed out again for dinner and enjoyed another relaxed evening in town.
Sunday: Sunshine, Autumn Air & One of Our Favourite Lakes
Sunday brought bright skies, crisp autumn air and some fantastic views of Caernarfon Castle, which looked incredible in the morning light — perfect for photos before we set off.
Llyn Dinas
Our final swim of the weekend was at Llyn Dinas, always a reliable favourite. The sun came out, the water was calm and the views up the valley were exactly what a wild swim weekend should feel like.
Afterwards, we stopped in Beddgelert for a well-earned brew, a wander around the village and, for some, an ice cream — a solid way to round off any wild-swimming trip.
A Great Weekend & More Wild Swims Ahead
This first hotel-based Snowdonia wild-swimming weekend worked brilliantly — easier travel, great social time, and flexible swim options that suited the mixed forecast.
If you’d like to join us for the next wild swimming adventure, you can find all upcoming dates here:
https://www.largeoutdoors.com/wild-swim-snowdonia
